SEERAH

Learning of the Week

17/03/17

Learning of the Week

Ü Description of Abraham and his Family
Ü Abraham's Childhood
Ü Abraham Discovers Allah
Ü Abraham Reasons with Celestial Worshippers, Idolaters and His father
Ü Abraham Breaks the Idols
Ü The Idolaters Try to burn Abraham
Ü Quiz Game

Abraham's Childhood: He was endowed with spiritual understanding from an early age. Allah enlightened his
heart and mind gave him wisdom from childhood.

Allah the Almighty stated:

"Indeed We bestowed aforetime on Abraham his (portion of) guidance, and We were Well Acquainted with him ( as
to his Belief in the Oneness of Allah etc). (Ch 21:51)

Abraham Discovers Allah: One night Abraham left his house to go to a mountain. He walked alone in the dark
until he chose a cave in the mountain where he sat resting his back against its wall. He looked at the sky. He had
hardly seen it when he remembered that he was looking at planets and stars, which were worshipped by some
people on earth. His young heart was filled with tremendous pain. He considered what was beyond the moon,
the stars and the planets (i.e. Allah) and was astonished that men worshiped these celestial bodies when they had
been created to worship and obey their Creator, appearing and disappearing at His command.

Abraham Breaks the Idols: He explained to them the beauty of Allah's creation, His power and wisdom. Idol
worship is detested by Allah for Allah is the Lord of the universe Who created mankind, guided him and
provided him with food and drink and cured him when he was sick and Who will cause him to die and be raised
up again. It was He to Whom Abraham prayed and who would forgive his sins on the Day of Judgment.
However, they would not give up but clung fast to idolatry. Abraham left his father's house and abandoned his
people and what they worshipped. He decide to do something about their state of disbelief, but did not reveal
it. He knew that there was going to be a great celebration on the other bank of the river, which would be
attended by all the people. Abraham waited until the city was empty, and then came out cautiously, directing his
steps towards the temple. The streets leading to it were empty and the temple itself was deserted for the priests
had also gone to the festival outside the city. Abraham went there carrying a sharp axe. He looked at the stone
and wood statues of the gods and at the food laid in front of them as offerings. He approached one of the
statues and asked: "The food in front of you is getting cold. Why don't you eat?" the statue kept silent and rigid.

Abraham asked all the other statues around him: "Will you not eat of the offering before you?" (Ch 37:91)
He was mocking them for he knew they would not eat. He once again asked then: "What is the matter with you
that you do not speak?" (Ch 37:92)
He then raised his axe and started smashing the false gods worshipped by the people. He destroyed them all
except one on whose neck he hung the axe. After this his anger subsides and he felt at peace. He left the temple.
He had fulfilled his vow to show his people a practical proof of their foolishness in worshipping something other
than Allah.

The Idolaters Try to burn Abraham: Anger was burning in their hearts. They decided to throw Abraham into the
biggest fire they could build. All the citizens were ordered to gather wood as a service to their gods. Ignorant,
sick women vowed that if they were cured they would donate so much wood to burn Abraham. For several days
they collected fuel. They dug a deep pit, filled it with firewood and ignited it. They brought a catapult with
which to cast Abraham into the fire. Abraham was put on the catapult; his hands and feet were tied. The fire was
ready with its flame reaching the sky. The people stood away from the pit because of the great heat. Then the
chief priest gave his order to cast Abraham into the fire.

The angel Gabriel came near Abraham's head and asked him: "O Abraham do you wish for anything?"
Abraham replied: "Nothing from you."

The catapult was shot and Abraham was cast into the fire. But his descent into the blaze was as descent on steps
in a cool garden. The flames were still there, but they did not burn for Allah the Almighty had issued His
command: "O fire! Be you coolness and safety for Abraham." (Ch 21:69 Quran)

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